COVINGTON -- The Newton County Sheriff's Office has located the 13-year-old runaway Jordan Aaron who has been missing since May 3 from her Covington home.

"Jordan Aaron was found safe," said NCSO Public Information Officer Deputy Cortney Morrison, who said though the 13-year-old had had no direct contact with her parents since she left home in May, her parents were "very instrumental" in bringing her home.

The juvenile was found at the home of a 21-year-old Marietta man, Joshua Harry Measroch, who has been arrested and charged with the offenses of interference with child custody and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Measroch is being detained at the Newton County Detention Center.

Morrison said investigators are keeping Cobb County authorities apprised of their investigation and more charges could be forthcoming from that agency.

"Measroch and Jordan became acquainted through an online dating site," Morrison said. "He did come down here and pick her up without the knowledge and consent of her parents and took her back to his home. That's where she's been ever since."

Morrison said both Measroch and Aaron are being cooperative with authorities.

Comments

I'm not clear on the NCSO's use of the word "safe" in this case. The 13 year-old runaway was found, and was found alive, but for a month she has been out of school and living with a 21 year-old man she met through a dating service. I can buy that a child might be judged safe in the hands of grandparents or maybe even a non-custodial parent in a domestic dispute, but this case sounds more perilous than safe. It sounds predatory and exploitive. It sounds risky and dangerous. It does not sound safe.